The Hawaiian Tropical Rainforest
Plants, Animals, and Abiotic factors ABIOTIC · Climate o On average, the summer months are the driest and sunniest, but they are also the most humid and warmest. The winter months usually bring more rain to the windward side of the islands; north and east, but prolonged rain storms are uncommon. o The southern coasts of each island are the driest parts year round.
Valleys, where clouds can build up and stick around a while, you're likely only to experience rain in short spells. o Hardly any difference between night and day temperatures year round.
The average high and low in the summer are around 85 and 71 respectively, while the averages high and low in the winter are 78 and 62 respectively. The temperature estimates only apply near sea level, please keep in mind that elevation changes will alter the temperatures. With every 1,000 foot climb in elevation, the temperature, on average, drops another 3.5 degrees.
· Ecosystem o 2,600 sq mi) in the windward lowlands and montane regions of the islands o Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to 300 m (980 ft) o Mixed mesic forests occur at elevations of 750 to 1,250 m (2,460 to 4,100 ft), o wet forests are found from 1,250 to 1,700 m (4,100 to 5,600 ft) o Isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species, including fungi, mosses, snails, birds, and other wildlife.
PLANTS Trees · ‘Ohi’a o Food for birds · Naio o Birds depend on it for food · Koa o Birds and butterflies depend on it for food Bushes/Trees · Māmane o food for birds and insects · Strawberry Guava o food for birds, humans and animals Shrubs · ‘Ohelo la’au o food for birds and animals
ANIMALS · ‘Io ü Eats: rodents, small birds, frogs, spiders, large insects, caterpillars, small birds. ü Endangered/native · Pueo ü Eats: rodents, insects, small birds. ü Endangered on Oahu/ native · Barn Owl o Eats: rodents, insects, small birds ü Not endangered/ foreign · ‘Ope‘ape‘a o Eats: beetles, insects, moths, termites, mosquitoes. ü Endangered/native
· Pupu kuahiwi o Eats: Algae and fungi that grow on trees and shrub leaves. ü Endangered/ native · ‘I‘iwi o Adults drink nectar from Mamane and ‘ohi’a lehua blossoms. The chicks are fed insects. ü Endangered/native
· ‘Akohekohe o Eats: primarily nectar from ’ohi’a blossoms and other flowers, some insects. ü Endangered/native · ‘Oma’o o Eats: fruits, berries, seeds, insects ü Not endangered/native · Palila o Eats: primary food is immature seeds in pods from Mämane trees, insects, Naio berries, and Mämane seed pods. ü Endangered/ Native
· Axis deer o Eats: all kinds of crops, grasses, and shrubs, including native species. ü Not endangered/not native · Pua‘a o Eats: earthworms, hapu‘u fern, roots, stems, leaves of shrubs, grasses, snails, insects, ground nesting birds, and turtle eggs. ü Not endangered/ not native
· Mongoose o Eats: birds, eggs, insects, rodents, fruits, berries ü Not endangered/not native
· Feral dog(mammal, carnivore) o Eats: game birds, nene, and rodents. ü Not endangered/not native
· Night crawler o Eats: decaying plant and animal matter with a little soil mixed in with each bit ü Not native/not endangered · Ant o Fungus, sweet sugary stuff such as fruit insides, sugar water and honey. ü native/not endangered · Honeybees o Nectar from flowers ü not endangered/ not native
\ · Passion butterfly o Eats: nectar from flowers ü not native, not endangered
Conservation Plan for Hawaii Control Methods The Hawaiian environment is becoming unsafe because of the overpopulation of the Coqui tree frog. It is our belief that the Coqui should be safely and efficiently removed from the environment. This will require cooperation and help from all the islanders. Homeowners can help reduce the amount of “coqui-friendly” habitats by keeping their yards clean and clear of compost, getting rid of stagnant or semi-stagnant water, keeping trees, bushes, shrubs, and other plants trimmed, and put fences that go all the way into the ground around their homes. This will reduce the amount of sheltered places for the frogs to breed and nest. The continental U.S. can actually help with this problem. Even if Hawaii is not connected to the continental U.S. we should still care about their environment. We can send volunteers to help with the removal process at little cost to the government. The government will only have to pay for the transportation costs and the islanders can donate supplies and help the volunteers if they wish. Control methods that the volunteers can use include hot water showers, and tube tools. (See following paragraphs for details) these will safely capture and dispose of them and are easy to use. If the Hawaiian people cooperate then the Coqui tree frog’s population can be diminished exponentially. The tube tool is a plastic or fiberglass clear tube attached to a plastic bag. When a person puts the tube over the frog, the frog will instinctively jump onto the side and continue climbing upwards until they reach the bag and are trapped. This insures a humane entrapment of the frog so that it can be disposed of humanely, through euthanizing gasses at a veterinarian or another animal specialist’s office. Hot water showers are a simple humane way to dispose of the frogs around Hawaii’s homes. Hawaiians can spray hot water (113 ̊F) over their plants, pick up the bodies of the deceased frogs, and dispose of them properly. This may damage some plants. Hawaiians should check and make sure that their plants are able to withstand such temperatures before using this method. Hawaii’s Coqui problem is much larger than a normal infestation, so action, no matter how cruel it may seem, must be taken immediately. Prevention Plants on boats headed to Hawaii from Puerto Rico should be thoroughly checked and all Coqui frogs should be removed before being transported. This will prevent any more frogs from being taken to Hawaii from Puerto Rico. One of the most effective prevention tools are Refugia lures. Refugia lures can be used to prevent any more frogs from laying and hatching eggs in Hawaii. It also serves another purpose: catching mother frogs that can breed and continue overpopulating Hawaii. These traps are made of bamboo or PVC pipes. These are tubes with one end sealed and the other covered by a piece of latex or other substance. They have one frog-sized hole drilled into the side close to the bottom. In really infested areas, they are place every three feet on trees or on stakes planted in the ground. The frogs breed and the mother frogs look for places to lay their eggs, these lures are prime spots for laying eggs. When the Hawaiians look inside the traps they will see both the mother frog and her new eggs. These can be removed and taken care of humanely. In conclusion, if everyone works together, and is willing sacrifice a little time and energy, the Coqui Tree Frog problem can be solved, and Hawaii’s ecosystem can be balanced once again.
The Hawaiian Tropical Rainforest
Plants, Animals, and Abiotic factors
ABIOTIC
· Climate
o On average, the summer months are the driest and sunniest, but they are also the most humid and warmest. The winter months usually bring more rain to the windward side of the islands; north and east, but prolonged rain storms are uncommon.
o The southern coasts of each island are the driest parts year round.
Valleys, where clouds can build up and stick around a while, you're likely only to experience rain in short spells.
o Hardly any difference between night and day temperatures year round.
The average high and low in the summer are around 85 and 71 respectively, while the averages high and low in the winter are 78 and 62 respectively. The temperature estimates only apply near sea level, please keep in mind that elevation changes will alter the temperatures. With every 1,000 foot climb in elevation, the temperature, on average, drops another 3.5 degrees.
· Ecosystem
o 2,600 sq mi) in the windward lowlands and montane regions of the islands
o Coastal mesic forests are found at elevations from sea level to 300 m (980 ft)
o Mixed mesic forests occur at elevations of 750 to 1,250 m (2,460 to 4,100 ft),
o wet forests are found from 1,250 to 1,700 m (4,100 to 5,600 ft)
o Isolation has resulted in the evolution of an incredible diversity of endemic species, including fungi, mosses, snails, birds, and other wildlife.
PLANTS
Trees
· ‘Ohi’a
o Food for birds
· Naio
o Birds depend on it for food
· Koa
o Birds and butterflies depend on it for food
Bushes/Trees
· Māmane
o food for birds and insects
· Strawberry Guava
o food for birds, humans and animals
Shrubs
· ‘Ohelo la’au
o food for birds and animals
ANIMALS
· ‘Io
ü Eats: rodents, small birds, frogs, spiders, large insects, caterpillars, small birds.
ü Endangered/native
· Pueo
ü Eats: rodents, insects, small birds.
ü Endangered on Oahu/ native
· Barn Owl
o Eats: rodents, insects, small birds
ü Not endangered/ foreign
· ‘Ope‘ape‘a
o Eats: beetles, insects, moths, termites, mosquitoes.
ü Endangered/native
· Pupu kuahiwi
o Eats: Algae and fungi that grow on trees and shrub leaves.
ü Endangered/ native
· ‘I‘iwi
o Adults drink nectar from Mamane and ‘ohi’a lehua blossoms. The chicks are fed insects.
ü Endangered/native
· ‘Akohekohe
o Eats: primarily nectar from ’ohi’a blossoms and other flowers, some insects.
ü Endangered/native
· ‘Oma’o
o Eats: fruits, berries, seeds, insects
ü Not endangered/native
· Palila
o Eats: primary food is immature seeds in pods from Mämane trees, insects, Naio berries, and Mämane seed pods.
ü Endangered/ Native
· Axis deer
o Eats: all kinds of crops, grasses, and shrubs, including native species.
ü Not endangered/not native
· Pua‘a
o Eats: earthworms, hapu‘u fern, roots, stems, leaves of shrubs, grasses, snails, insects, ground nesting birds, and turtle eggs.
ü Not endangered/ not native
· Mongoose
o Eats: birds, eggs, insects, rodents, fruits, berries
ü Not endangered/not native
· Feral dog (mammal, carnivore)
o Eats: game birds, nene, and rodents.
ü Not endangered/not native
· Night crawler
o Eats: decaying plant and animal matter with a little soil mixed in with each bit
ü Not native/not endangered
· Ant
o Fungus, sweet sugary stuff such as fruit insides, sugar water and honey.
ü native/not endangered
· Honeybees
o Nectar from flowers
ü not endangered/ not native
\
· Passion butterfly
o Eats: nectar from flowers
ü not native, not endangered
Conservation Plan for Hawaii
Control Methods
The Hawaiian environment is becoming unsafe because of the overpopulation of the Coqui tree frog. It is our belief that the Coqui should be safely and efficiently removed from the environment. This will require cooperation and help from all the islanders.
Homeowners can help reduce the amount of “coqui-friendly” habitats by keeping their yards clean and clear of compost, getting rid of stagnant or semi-stagnant water, keeping trees, bushes, shrubs, and other plants trimmed, and put fences that go all the way into the ground around their homes. This will reduce the amount of sheltered places for the frogs to breed and nest.
The continental U.S. can actually help with this problem. Even if Hawaii is not connected to the continental U.S. we should still care about their environment. We can send volunteers to help with the removal process at little cost to the government. The government will only have to pay for the transportation costs and the islanders can donate supplies and help the volunteers if they wish.
Control methods that the volunteers can use include hot water showers, and tube tools. (See following paragraphs for details) these will safely capture and dispose of them and are easy to use. If the Hawaiian people cooperate then the Coqui tree frog’s population can be diminished exponentially.
The tube tool is a plastic or fiberglass clear tube attached to a plastic bag. When a person puts the tube over the frog, the frog will instinctively jump onto the side and continue climbing upwards until they reach the bag and are trapped. This insures a humane entrapment of the frog so that it can be disposed of humanely, through euthanizing gasses at a veterinarian or another animal specialist’s office.
Hot water showers are a simple humane way to dispose of the frogs around Hawaii’s homes. Hawaiians can spray hot water (113 ̊F) over their plants, pick up the bodies of the deceased frogs, and dispose of them properly. This may damage some plants. Hawaiians should check and make sure that their plants are able to withstand such temperatures before using this method. Hawaii’s Coqui problem is much larger than a normal infestation, so action, no matter how cruel it may seem, must be taken immediately.
Prevention
Plants on boats headed to Hawaii from Puerto Rico should be thoroughly checked and all Coqui frogs should be removed before being transported. This will prevent any more frogs from being taken to Hawaii from Puerto Rico.
One of the most effective prevention tools are Refugia lures. Refugia lures can be used to prevent any more frogs from laying and hatching eggs in Hawaii. It also serves another purpose: catching mother frogs that can breed and continue overpopulating Hawaii. These traps are made of bamboo or PVC pipes. These are tubes with one end sealed and the other covered by a piece of latex or other substance. They have one frog-sized hole drilled into the side close to the bottom. In really infested areas, they are place every three feet on trees or on stakes planted in the ground. The frogs breed and the mother frogs look for places to lay their eggs, these lures are prime spots for laying eggs. When the Hawaiians look inside the traps they will see both the mother frog and her new eggs. These can be removed and taken care of humanely.
In conclusion, if everyone works together, and is willing sacrifice a little time and energy, the Coqui Tree Frog problem can be solved, and Hawaii’s ecosystem can be balanced once again.
Citation
Attribution: 'lo. trees are terrific and forests are too. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/kids/teach/forest%20activity.pdf>.
Attribution: Pueo. trees are terrific and forests are too. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/kids/teach/forest%20activity.pdf>.
Attribution: Original image: 'The Barn Owl (Tyto Alba) - You Talkin' to me? - Flagstaff AZ Arboretum'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8989759@N06/4021917176
by: Axel Foley
Attribution:([https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/News/Earthday/SecDef99/Army-Awards99/Hawaii_nrc/hawaii_final.html Source] Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus)
Attribution: (Information |Description={{en|Giant African Snail (''Achatina'' (''Lissachatina'') ''fulica'' Bowdich) photographed August 4, 2001 crossing concrete patio in Kāne'ohe, O'ahu, Hawai'i by Eric Guinther |Source=Transferred from [http://en.wikipedia.org )
Attribution: (Information |Description= Hawaiian Honeycreeper species |Source= http://biology.usgs.gov/pierc/PLJarviPage4.htm |Date= 2005 |Author= Dr. Susan Jarvi)
Attribution: Original image: 'DSC_0986'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23627220@N00/493370365
by: Bob Jensen
Attribution: Original image: '’oma’o'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23627220@N00/493370365
by: Bob Jensen
Attribution: Original image: 'perching endangered palila'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10028596@N00/3456959842
by: Caleb Slemmons
Attribution: Original image: 'Axis Deer'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66831055@N00/580081005
by: Nick Lawes
Attribution: Original image: 'Wild Boar ... Mean isn't he?'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/1
9364701@N00/2644117554
by: Subharnab Majumdar
Attribution: Original image: 'Obesity'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89682643@N00/36146033
by: Manfred Caruso
Attribution: Original image: 'Tijuana dog'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23973174@N06/3978613268
by: Drew Thomas
Attribution: Original image: 'Under a Rock'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67335469@N00/3941141160
by: Dean Gugler
Attribution: Original image: 'Cataglyphis velox 25'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22710407@N08/3351209349
by: Tim Keppens
Attribution: Original image: 'Honey Bee Macro'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/21932201@N04/4312985916
by: Karunakar Rayker
Attribution: 'Mariposa Espejitos 2009'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/67662120@N00/4246103318
by: Gustavo Durán
Activity adapted with permission from The 2001 Arbor Day National
Poster Contest Activity Guide
The Nature Conservancy Oahu Program - Project Stewardship
(forest layers diagram)
Mari Sakamoto (Native Hawaiian plant drawings)
Original image: 'Waimoku falls trail'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58117789@N00/161501217
by: Angela Sevin
Original image: 'viewpoint'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35188692@N00/2226199223
by: Alan L
Original image: 'un momenta'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35188692@N00/2276939084
by: Alan L
Original image: 'night-time..right time'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35188692@N00/159879546
by: Alan L
Photo © DJ Soundwav
www.island-trust.com/images/egg_8d.jpg
www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/.../measuring_frog.jpg
www.fs.fed.us/.../picture_7.JPG
frogworld.net/.../uploads/2008/12/coqui-frog.jpg